UC-NRLF II B 3 MTE Ibl f . - LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. Class THE JOURNAL OF SIB BOGEB WILBEAHAM Solicitor-General in Ireland and Master of Requests For the Yeaes 1593-1616 TOGETHER WITH NOTES IX ANOTHER HAND For riiE Years 1642 1649 VOL. X. (w) THE JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBKAHAM [Wilbraham was over in England in the spring of 1593, in attendance on the Privy Council (• Cal. of State Papers, Irish Series,' 1592-6, pp. 77, 89). In September 1593 he was back again in Dublin, as is shown by his writing to Burghley there- from {ibid. 144).] 10 Aprilis 1593: At th'ending of parliament,1 Cook2 sollicitor, speeker ; Puckering 3 1. chauncelor ; before the coming of the Queen, two of the privi councell delivered the act of general pardon to the 1. chauncelor. After the Speeker & Commons brought in : & then her maiestie came in her robes & coronett, & having well placed & settled her self, the Speeker & 2 or 3 & most at bane after 3 low congeas, made an oration: 1° of the antiquitie of parliament used in king Ebe's l tyme : secondlie of her maiesti>'V favor in calling her people to consult for the state : & 3° desired leave to compare her maiestie to a bee : which governs with such pollicie that all thother obey : et rex sine aculeis — the master bee without stinge : and so her mercy such as never punisheth without remorse : then her people are valient as bees to drive away the drones : so they put Spaniards to flight : & said the bees brought honey to Plato an infant : which fortold his eloquence & wished the same hap had befallne himself to utter his; 1" he shewed the nobles & commons had made lawes to which her maiestie must give lief or els they now determined : viz : lawes & statuts con- tinued : other lawes capable of lief if her maiestie by her voice 1 The dissolution of this Parliament is described by Heywood Townsheml (Historical Collections, pp. 45-49, ed. 1680) and D'Ewes (Journalof 1'arliaments of Elizabeth, ed. 1682, pp. 465 4ti7). There are considerable variations in details from the account here given, but the substance is similar. 2 Sir Edward Coke, the future Chief Justice of the King's Bench, at this time Solicitor-General and Speaker. 3 Sir John Puckering, Lord Keepi ,1 '•- 6. 1 Ina (D'Ewes's Report, p. 465). B 2 4 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM gave them lief as laws newlie established : first for repressing inward disturbers as papists & scismatikes : secondlie a provision against invasion : offering in the name of all a treble subsedie & 6 fiftenths acording to ther habilities not answarable to ther myndes, who were willing to loose ther hartes in the enimies bosome for her safetie : 5° rendred her maiestie humble thanks for her gracious & ample pardon : & because it extended to facts done before the parliament, therfor craved a special pardon for his defects or offences done of ignorance & so ended. The 1. keper having kneeled before her maiestie retorned to his place & said, ' Mr. speker her maiestie hath hard your eloquent & wise spech & geven me expresse commaundment to answare to some partes thereof: & 1° to the antiquitie of parliament an allowed thing : & King Canute used it : 3° aproved the comparizon of the bees, & extolled her clemencie & allowed the subiects' valure & dutie, onlie charged some of oversight that in the lower house gave not due reverence to some of her privi councell : 4° the lawes she allowed : and persuaded the iudges & magistrates to see them executed — magistratus est lex loquens : acepting most thankfullie the subsedie, as a provision against invasion : and persuaded that the musters & armer might be well regarded : ' Then her maiestie stood up saying to this effect : in golden wordes. She thought meete the Lords & Commons should under- stand out of her owne hart & mouth those thinges the 1. keper had spoken by her direction : 1° touching the subsedie she thanked them assuring them that it was for their own defence a provision & not for her expenses : for her endevors were spent altogether either in service of god : or in government of her people or for the florishing estate of her kingdomes : her care was as great as any kings had been (her father excepted in reverence of a child) to preserve her people : that she was now groen in yeres & therfore not like now to bestow her treasure but for the safetie of her people : that since the beggininge she bathe refused good occasion to amplifie her kingdom : but that she feared it wold be more charge to her people then honor : she never gave occasion of offence, wherfore her neighbors should so anoy her : she made warre abroade to kepe it farther of : she required none to feare : her hart never stood so much at peace : she knew no cause to doubt victorie but persuaded provident pro- vision & so ended with hartie tbaunkes. JOURNAL OF HUi ROGER WILUKAIIA.M 5 29 April L593 : before her maiestie at Whitehall: the recorder of London ' & aldermen presented the L. maior - : the recorder's speech was that the armor of peace was the due administration of the sword & of lawes : for as treasure is called the sinewes of peace: so the administracion of lawes are: in both which he extolled her maiestie's most happy government as well with her power against foes as Justice towards her subiects : then he discended to shew that king John, 10 of his raign, incorporated London & endowed them with manifold liberties, that the maior chosen should be presented to the 1. keper : then to the barons of eschequer or lieutenant of the tower : after to her maiestie : by whose graciouse raigne and benignitie the citie had florished above all the rest of the realme : wherefore in humble acknowledgement thereof ther service goods & lives were redie to sacrifice to her gracious pleasure : prainge that her maiestie wold vouchsafe to geve allowance to ther choice, for that the 1. keper & lieutenant had allowed him : being chosen acording to ther charter's limita- tions : beseching pardon if in this or his last spech he had com- mitted any error : The 1. keper after her maiestie by whispering had intimated her pleasure said, ' Mr Wm Roe the Q9 most excellent maiestie hath hard and effectuallie perceaved your spech and geven me in charge (albeit an unworthie interpreter of so divine an oracle) to lett you understand her gracious pleasure touching some parts thereof : 1" touching your discourse of lawes she aproveth them true, re- quiring at your handes due administracion, within your liberties : for that in the rest of the realme the same is committed to careful and sufficient men : 2° wher you advaunce your citie before others, 1 daies before at the place of bataille: he also compared bhem to the Harpies in Virgil, that were paynted like Virgins bu1 devourers of men : A: so Jesuites under simplicitie bring men to perdition: he said the sword borne before the maior signified justice & fortitude : the white rod temperance and innocency : & amplified that : & exhorted them to looke to the streetes & markets. 29 Sept. 1596: the recorder presented Chamberlain1 maior before the barons of eschequer, saing in effect the came to deliver the sword & receve it ther as from the Quene. He said manie held opinion that it was fatal to cities to have a certen begyning & a certen end, as the nativities of men were certen : told of clivers histories that varie in the begyning of Dublin citie : & for the end it was as incerten : for Rome was conquered, Athens and Carthage distroied : & recited manie other cities and countreyes : He showed this citie before the conquest, how it came by the conquest; that king H 2 conqueror first endowed them with Bristow liberties: and shewed that ech king hath enlarged some- what: in specialti, and declared ther services in specialtie. And with sonic examples out of Plutarche's Lives, he compared ther services: and commended them to be illesa fldei] vi/rgo in- tacta: & shewed ther choice & praied allowance of ther mayor: Baron Segreve answared in praise of justice, exhorted him to government, and praised ther choice, and juratur. Per W. Gerrard : 2 one said by Puckering L. keper : he was acquainted with him verie familiarlie, & had neither great lerning nor welth till that advauncement. but now he perceved the opera- tion of a L. keper's place was to purchase a manor every moneth : 1 Michael Chamberlain, Mayor of Dublin 1596-7 (Cal. of Ancient Records of Dublin, vol. ii. p. 298. '-' William Gerrard, admitted Gray's Inn 1572 : in the Pension Bool Inn, p. 99, there is an entry dated May 9, 1593, mentioning him as Clerk of the Duchy. 10 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM Tom Lancaster ' said, Yelverton 2 was seriante, merite by course of common lawe : Haries 3 et Glanvile 4 by Borow Englishe pre- venting ther seignors : 5 but the rest by the statute of Quia emptores terrarum : [Wilbraham came over to England early in 1598 (Cal. of State Papers, Ireland, 1598-99, p. 29), and, it would seem, settled down to practise at the English Bar. (See Introduction.) 6 Daies past, viz. 9 Feb : the parliament of 39 & 40 Rae ended : her maiestie came to the house of the Lords and commons : 6 the speker (Yelverton serieant) made a most fine & well filed speche : verie short & manie well couched sentences somewhat imitating but bettering Euphues : his exordium was, if any common welth most sacred and renowned quene be to be acounted happie who have free libertie to treate & enact lawes, & so wise & prudent a prince to see them executed with justice & mercy, then is England thrice happie : he exampled England with the lawes of Solon, Licurgus & Plato : reciting some sentences of ech of them : then he discoursed largelie how the commons had seriouslie considered acording to the uttermost of their reaches of good peticions as lawes for the kingdome : commending ther sinceritie and gravitie : & that as new diseases require new medicins, so ech 1 Thomas Lancaster, admitted Gray's Inn 1569. Other jests of his are recorded by Wilbraham. '2 Christopher Yelverton, admitted Gray's Inn 1552, Serjeant 1589, Speaker 1597, and J. K. B. 1602 (Foss's Judges). 3 Thomas Harris, of the Middle Temple, Serjeant 1589. ' John Glanville, admitted Lincoln's Inn 1567, Serjeant 1589, J. C. P. 1598. 5 Yelverton was considerably senior to Harris and Glanville, and evidently their superior in reputation, having been Reader in his Inn in 1574, while Harris was not elected a Reader till 1588 and Glanville only in 1589. The other Serjeants of 1589 were Edward Drew, John Cooper (Inner Temple), Thomas Hamond (Gray's Inn), and Thomas Owen (Lincoln's Inn). Dugdale Chronica Series (1680), p. 99. 6 Townshend does little more than give a bare record of the Queen's coming and the two speeches here given. (Townshend, Hist. Col. ed. 1680, p. 126.) D'Ewes (Journal of Parliaments of Elizabeth, pp. 546-7) has a somewhat fuller account, but both in substance and in detail, so far as the speeches, at any rate are concerned, is inferior to the report which Wilbraham has given. In the Lord Keeper's speech for instance the complaint concerning the Judges and Justices of the Peace is omitted. JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBKAHAM 1 1 common welthe wilbe ruined unlesse ther be prevencion of daun- gerous enormities by the helpe of good lawes : which in course of tyme are to be abrogated altered .and renewed as occasion is : & amplified this with some few sentences of histories : & said such yet was the condicion of these peticions whempon the commons had assembled, consulted & resolved, that lik as the picture of Pigma- lion with the painter himself for the rareness of the work was but a dead image until it pleased Jupiter to instill lief, so these peticions shalbe fruitelesse, unlesse it please your royall maiestie to inspire lief unto them. Then he further presented in all humilitie a small subsidie, as an assured token of ther bodies lands & liefsto beentierlie devoted to princelie pleasure of so sacred & sovereign quene : Hereupon he entered into discourse of her maiestie's manifold vertues : science of languages : especial favour towards her subiects, to dispend for ther defence her private treasure, which he acompted as peculiar to her private as the possessions of subiects : that ber maiestie in regard to kepe her treasure for defence, had not bestowed it on private : that her maiestie did not delite in sump- teouse buildings, too great a fault in manie subiects : saying builders wold undoe themselves if enimies did not restraine them from ther owne destruction : 2" that she had ben princelie temperate in apparell : adding some sentence in the praise of moderation therein. So 3° likewise in banquetting praised her temperance with a sen- tence or twoe : he also spak of the execution of lawes: and Licurgus the best lawe giver, because his lawes were executed : Then he proceded to compare lawe for government A: armie against force : & amplified that both were the parties of a prince : & that subsidies were to be geven for defence of kingedome : & provision made for withstanding raging enemies : by sentences : & her maiestie had a greater potentate her enemy e then any her pro- genitors : namely Spaine, who sought the effusion of all English bloud : the exaltation of superstition &c. & invasion. Then he in the name of the howse rendred thanks for that her maiestie had reformed noisome licenses, & privilidges called monopolies : he praised her maiesties justice, but especiallie her mercy which had eternized manie, with severitie seldom any : he craved pardon if the howse had transgressed ther dutie : and sithence none could speke for himself but he, craved upon his knees pardon for himself: this spech was full of elegancies, 12 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM swetlie delivered.: but thought too full of flatterie to curious & tedious : Sir Thomas Egerton L keper : said her maiestie had given him expresse charge to answare to the learned & eloquent oration, commending his treatie of lawes : reproving the negligence in justices of peace & of assise in not providing for the pore: not punishing forstallers, regrators, ingrossing : not executing the statute of Winchester : that sturdie vagabonds & such pretended gents as wanted living, which as it was death in som common welths, so he wished it to be punished in ours : that justices of peace were lik dogges in the Capitoll, that being sett to barke at rebels, sett themselves to anoy the good subiects : so ther gredines was the grevance of the people : That tho her maiestie provided this subsidie for safetie of her people she yet acepted it thankfullie & graciouslie as a gift to her self: amplified the rancorous malice of Spain : that all provision & redines was for withstanding him : Amplified that of his knowledge living and dying he must acknowledge her maiestie never desired the wealth of her people nor annoyance, with hard extremities or without aparent right : he complayned that witt of man ill employed had invented enormous & pestilent perpetuities : which might have been converted to better purposes to the service of god & contrey : advised the Justices of lawe in her maiestie's name to make pleine & sincere expositions of the lawe, not to plauge themselves with curious interpretations, wherby any enormities might arize : He cited some sentences of Jerome &c. of the blessings of a iust prince : prayed for her sentenciouslie & brieflie, & craved pardon for himself: The acts read : and thassent royal notified : the L. keper declared her maiestie's pleasure to dissolve the Parliament. Within 3 daies after the day after terme * the L. keper in full assemblie said he was commanded by her maiestie to deliver such things as herself if tym had permitted meant to have uttered in parliament : that all should repaire to ther howses & not dwell like battel ors in London : that the should kepe hospitalitie for releaf of pore : that the lawes he spok of in Parliament & now againe renewed might be executed : that manie Justices of peace were baskett 1 Hilary term ended February 21 ; the date would therefore be February 25, 1598. JOURNAL OF SlE ROGfiB WTLBRAHAM 13 •I astices, to gather In mis & capons colore officii, but no1 to distribute just ice to the releaf of the subiects : that •) ustices of assize should u< t Look i" the clositt of rich princes &c. but the peace of the countrie : & as bishops bad triennial visitations, so she sent them as visitors twise a yere : if they neglected the publick service she wold correct them. & they should be acompted as collectors not correct ms ; thai principallie her maiestie's pleasure was ech should gard his owi quarter: look to musters and armor for provision: not upon any event slume from his howse for fear, for then her maiestie would sese his livings & correct him forcowardize by ber royal prerogative : A as preparation was wisdom, so her hart feared nothing, but assured of victorie by gods hand. Under whose protection she erected safetie by her polesies : posui Deum ad/jutorem meum : scutum fidei protegit me: & so with an eloquent Sc pithie speche ended : The 1. Treasurer commended the Justice of England now above former tymes : advised to Justices : complayed of numbers of Justpces] of peace : & that lettres of musters should issue : that recusants inereasing be looked to : &c. Hughie Beston L works better with a rake then a shovel : per Hikes A varus : Tanfield 2 told Attorney Cooke, he was the best cook and liked his fingers best of any cook the Queen had. Aprill 1098 : Maries rehersal sermon : 3 fiores : 1 Sir Hugh Beeston, of Beeston, Knight, son of Sir George Beeston, who dii 1001, aged 102. Sir Hugh died in 1626, aged 56. (Orinerod's Hist, of Cheshire, 2nd ed. vol ii. p. 272.) 2 Lawrence Tanfield, admitted Inner Temple 1569 : J. K. B. 1606 and C. B. Exch. 1607 (Foss's Judges). '■' On Good Friday a sermon was preached at Paul's Cross on Christ's l'assion : and on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in Easter week sermons were preached at the Spited or pulpit cross of St. Mary's, Spitalfields, ' to persuade the article of Christ's Besurrection.' And then on Low Sunday a learned divine at J 'mil's Cross made 'Rehearsal of these four former sermons, either commending or reproving them as to him by judgment of the learned divines was thought con- venient. And that done, he was to make a sermon of his own study.' The Mayor and Aldermen attended these sermons. (Stowu's Su> i, ,-. edit. <1 by W. J. Thorns, and note thereto, p. 6a.) Sec also Remenibrancia, City 14 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM Alexander when he built a citie made 4 gates to receve in the 4 windes to purefie the citie : so this citie had 4 sermons to purge it from synne : & so compared ech sermon to some of the windes : with sentences in praise of some of the windes : & acord- iug in ech place praised their severall sermons : no knowledge, but Christ and him crucified, with all the sermons preached. 3 captens praised in the new testament : S Mathew : of one Christ said he had found no such faith 27 Mathew: another capten confessed god. Cornelius a capten in the acts of apostels : a devout man : an almes gever : &c. So also the poet says, nulla fides pietasque viris qui castra sequuntur. Yet the scripture aproveth the profession of armes lawfull by these good men. Another saeth, exeat aula qui vult esse pius : Ambrose saiethe, non agnovit elemosinarium pervenisse ad malum finem. Salomon praied that God wold nether geve him nether povertie nor riches, but convenient to live on : 1°. Samuell : vers 10 : x God tooke away his good spirit from Saule & the evill spirite tormented him ; which proveth a good & evill spirit : Englands blisse by the long and prosperous raigne of her Ma- iestie during whose government 5 popes, 2 French kinges, have died : 2 many other neighbouring kings princes & dukes poisoned and murdered. Vertue geves the most resplendent lustre : Graunt's 3 sermon upon Cornelius, Acts, &c, & whose notes for the most part the forsaid were, wished with Cicero : that it was London, 1579-1664, pp. 367-8, where the City asserts, to the Council, its right of appointment of the preachers at St. Mary's Spited on the three usual days in Easter week : ' though they had usually acquainted the Lord Bishop of London with their names that he, knowing who they were, might the more fitley appoint a preacher for the Eehersal Sermon at PauVs Cross.' 1 1 Sam. xvi. 14. 2 As a matter of fact there were eight popes and four French kings between 1558 and 1598. 3 Dr. Edward Grant, Camden's predecessor at Westminster School, a scholar poet, and preacher. JOURNAL OF SIK ROGEB WILBRAHAM 15 written in every mans i'orheail. quid de religionb et r&publica sentiret, at this day so many camelions and doble faced Janus be [in] ech place : -I'-) ApriUs 1598 : was I at St Georges feast : kept at Whitehall : the Larle of Shrewsberie was L. President of the order: for thai day: L. Admirall 5 eldest: erle marshall 2 second : Lord Buck- hurst 3 : Erie North 3 4 : L. Tho Howarde 5 : Erie Worcester G : L. Hundesdon 7 : L. Mountioy 8 : Sir H. Leye 4 9 : On the eve about 3 of the clocke were all the servants about London that attended on the knights of the order of the garter in the baze court, inner court hall and elsewhere : but now admitted into the presence : then the knights as they were attyred in their robes : being purple velvett all & trayling on the ground : lyned with white taffita, for lightnes as semed : the inner garments were ther ordinarie hose and doublett : with a side casesocke beneth the calf of the legg of scarlett coloured velvett : & a hood of the same like a livery hood but larger torned on the right shoulder : & on ther left armes the read cross embroidered on ther utter robe : ech had a velvett cappe and fether : saving the L. Buckhurst : who belike doth not professe armes but a councellor : he had no fether : the bishop of Winchester 5 was prelate of the order, onlie in a purple velvett robe : the deane of Windsor G in succession is deane of the order : & had a cry m son satten robe : one of the gent ushers, Mr. Conesby 7 is gentleman usher of the black rodde : (with which he useth to goe before noblemen & peers that are attainted. or to suffer :) ther were two harolds kinges & about 12 more other harolds in ther richest attire : that went in procession & to chappel before ther lords : After eche was thus richelye attyred : the Lords passed throw 1 Charles, Lord Howard of Effingham, at this time Earl of Nottingham. 2 Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. 3 Roger, Lord North, was not a Knight of the Garter : and his name is erased in the MS. * Sir Henry Lee. ■• Thomas Bilson. ■ Robert Bennett. 7 On November 14, 1601, complaint was made in the House of Lords on behalf of Mr. Connisby, Gentleman Usher, that in the last Parliament the Serjeant-at- Arms had been employed in bringing in persons before the Lords upon breach of privilege of the House, whereas this duty belonged to the office of the Gentleman Usher. (Townshend, Hist. Col. ed. 1680, p. 133.) 16 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM the presence to the Qs Maiestie, soveraigne of the order : to waite on her to chappell : her maiestie went not : so the went after the harolds to chappell : the youngest knights formost : two and two in a ranke : & the President last alone : every two together made in the chappell two solemn curscies, one I thinke to her maiesties place, thother to the presidente : before the took ther seats, ordinary praiers : one chapter read by the Prelate of the order thother by the deane : the rest of praiers said by the L. Prelate : 2 psalmes and two antems songe with great melodie, organs, voices, shakbuts and other instruments : & so after 2 solemne curseis de- parted the chappell and retorned in order to the Presence : & ther attending for supper : the L. President sate on the left hand close to the clothe of estate : & the whole table about 40 dishes, the first course sett dishe upon dishe : all doble gilt plate was for the L. President's messe : 2 tables more, whereto were 3 messe more, sate all the rest of the Lords and knights of the order : ech one a yard and a half from another : all upon the benche : served in silver with meate as much as could be couched on the bord : as tho ech had a messe by himself: to ech messe two courses & a bankett : the meate was brought up by the gards : but the ordinarie Queen's shewers did not waite : but to ech knight one of the gent Pensioners & another gentleman appointed to attende : Before & after supper, standing water was brought, first to the president with 3 congees : whom ech knight attend bare : after to ech two knights water brought againe by other, & so in order ech washed with the hatts on : with like three congees two chaplens said grace : & so sate at supper : wherein they spent 2 howres & a half : & at tenne of the clock departed to ech ones lodginge : During this tyme of supper all the tables in the Qs howse supped in ther due order, & I supped at the L. chamberlayne's x bord : where Sir John Poines 2 was his deputi : 1 George Carey, second Lord Hunsdon. - Probably Sir John Poyntz, of Iron Acton, Gloucestershire. Aubrey, in a note on his son, Sir Robert Poyntz, speaks of the family as having been ' men of note at Court' {Brief Lives, A. Clark, vol. ii. p. 172). He does not seem to have actually ever held the post of Vice-Chamberlain, which would appear to have remained vacant between the death of Sir Thomas Heneage, in October 1595, and the appointment of Sir John Stanhope in 16011 (S. P. Dom. 159S and 1601, pp. JOUBNAL OK SIR ROGER WILI3RAIIAM I 7 The next clay her maiestie went to chappell in procession under a canopie caried with o' : & that knights all : Die sequenti, Comes Essex cum 300 : et Baron Mountioy cum 200 servis marched to the L. maior. Ultimo Aprilis 1598 : Crook ' Recorder: grant maior de Londres fait fait chivaler : fait oration a cet efect : Exordium : the earth most dred & gracious soveraigne brings forth no such weede so hate full as an unthankfull man: the sub- iects of England never more bound to so gracious a soveraigne : who by her magnanimitie hath preserved us from all daungers feared as invasion : ace seu hello cum Hispania tractate, 98.12 Pro \mce : 1° Peace most agreable with religion & civill society : 2° Her maiestie scandalized to be nurse of dissention : ergo h 3° Commodities of peace are present, of warre future : 1 David Fitz James, Lord Barry, Viscount Buttevant. '-' Maurice, Lord Roche, Viscount Fermoy. 3 John Fitz Edmond, called in the Queen's letter, supra, ' our good old ser- vitor.' (Cal. S. P. Irel, 1599 1000, p. 363.) I Fynen O'Driscoll. •'• Cormac McDermot, chief of Muskerry. • Florence McCarthy, vide ante, p. 24, note. 7 Alias McCarthy Reogh, chief of Carberry (see Cal. S. P. Ircl, 1592 6, where the name is printed Na Fipi, Ne Pipee and Pypy). His wife was Desmond' sister {ibid., 1599-1600, p. 364). 8 Oway or Onie McRorie, son of Rory Oge O'Moore, chief of the Moores. II Donnell Spainagh, a chief of the Kavanaghs. 10 ' The likeliest men in Leinster are Onie McRory, Donnell Spainagh, ami Captain Tyrell. These be the men that raised all the rebellion in Monster, and these be the men that may surpress it.' (Cal. S. P. Irel, 1599-1600 p. 367. ) " Miler Magrath, Archbishop of Cashel, 1571-1622. '- Camden practically gives this, AjduiIcs Reg. Eliz. (1627) vol. ii. p. 155 Ac. 28 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM 4° Her maiestie's person more secured, if no foren enemy be to foster such assailants : 5° Great expenses wilbe avoided : 6° It is like, the warres in Ireland supported by Spaine wilbe the soner ended : 7° Traffic for the Queene and merchants reestablished to ther benefite : 8° The trade of Spain opened for bringing in money : 9° Her maiestie shall have a brething tyme to be better pro- vided for all events : 10° It may be douted whether England & Low Countreys can suport the warres ther : supress the rebellion in Ireland, & to exploit somewhat in Spaine to werie the king : and force him to better condicions. Essex pro hello e contra : 1° Spaine by intermission of expence wilbe aboundantlie en- riched above al princes to ther daunger : 2° Spaine will nott sitt downe with so manie dishonours & therfore no sound peace, but ever will seke revenge : 3° By peace her maiestie must abandon those of Holland & Zeland without hope of rembursement of her money disbursed for ther ayd : or els deliver the Cautionary Townes to have her money of the King of Spaine : which is more dishonorable : 4° The province destitute of the Qs ayd shalbe made vassels to Spaine : & he thereby inabled to offend the Queene at his will & disposition. Beplicatio pro pace : Notandwn primo quocl rationes pro 'pace validce sunt et sub- sistunt, nee indigent sublevamine : & the reasons for war are thus answered : 1° Altho Spaine be inriched by peace to annoy, England by like proporcion shalbe inriched & inabled to defend : 2° The unsureness of the peace, (which is the gretest doubt) yet it is likelie the peace shall contynew : for, 1° the warre hath ben more losse to him then to England : 2° it is like the error of councellors that perswaded the king to reduce the Low Countreys to other state then his father left them, is now seene or reformed & that he will be glad to enioy them in the same manner : & 3° for the honor of revenge, proef of impossibilitie to effect & then ever appease men's passions : 4° if the Low Countreys will not be JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAJM 29 reduced by foi'ce in the meaue tyme England shall gather manie advantages : also England & Fraunce united, as for politik respecte is likely they will, they shall ever be able to ballance the force of Spaine, altho he had the Low Countreys: which will not be in short time, as apereth by experience of emperor Charles, a prince of as great force & more reputacion then the king : & so England secured enoughe : 3° Touching the 3 obiecion, it wilbe no reason nor fit for her maiestie to deliver the Cautionary Townes, but she may leave the protecion of the Low Countreys with honor, for her avd was till the might have of the king reasonable condicions for ther liberti as subjects & of ther consciences in religion : for which if she be a mediator for them & they utterlie refuse, she may with honor leave them to ther own defence. And for the loss of monie it is not to be acompted loss that hath kept the enemy so long from amongst us : & if they become obedient to Spaine, he may assent to some order for our satisfacion : if they persist in warre her maiestie may think of some other meanes for her money : 4° For the 4th reason of warre, that the king wilbe more able to annoy us : it is like the Low Countreys will not in short tyme be reduced by force : in the meane tyme manie accidents will fall out : but if they be reduced by condicions of peace, they wilbe such as we shall not need to feare. for if the K. of Spain remove the army of straungers, both we & they shalbe the more secure : for the Low Countreys are like to desire the amiti of us for ther safetie : also liberti of religion being graunted, such as are so affected will have a dependency on the Queen & never be caried to any violent action against her: quia communis necessitas facU communes aminos. And whatsoever shalbecome of them, Fraunce & England being united, as they wilbe ever ocasioned, they shalbe a counter- poise for Spaine. So as compare shortlie the reasons of peace & warre together : 1° The commodities of peace present, the daungers future : 2° The benefites of peace certen and sensible to be felt, the successe of warre incerten : & the suposed daunger of peace doth depend upon God & may be without daunger : 3° The peace hath in it as things now stand more of necessiti.' then the warre, therfor to be preferred : 30 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM 4° The good of peace to redound to England : of the warre upon others : 5° Peace avoideth blodshed : & strengtheninge of Christendom against infidels : thinge agreable to God & men : 6° reasons of warre onlie humane by presumpcions of daungers future : wherof it is better to leave the dispensation to god, founding our actions upon the rules of conscience & common good of mankind, then upon our wills conceates & suspicions to con- tynew courses not commendable but only by necessitie : the discourse it self was more enlarged. Ultimo die termini mich. 1599 : in le star-chamber le Sieur Keper invey vers insolent libellers et presumptuouse dis- coursers : & abrupte vel quasi obiter declare le grand expense de royne pur preservacion de Ireland (quel sa maiestie entend seriousment a preserver) et que royne ad exhauste 300001 in 7 mois : et le people la plus re- bellious que fuit devant : issint sa treasure mispend : car Tyrone & toutz rebels ore sont plus prowd & presumptuous de lour force que fueront devant : entant que secretarie dit que Tyrone iu une darraine parlee ove Sir William Warren, dit quil ad un grand hope ore daver un share in Angleterre : & sont plusves rebels ore que fueront in marche : et les sieurs recite toutz les enterprises del Count de Essex vers les rebels, in quex chescun plusves de subiects On the last day of Michael- mas Term 1599, in the Star Chamber, the Lord Keeper in- veighs against insolent libellers and presumptuous discoursers : then abruptly and as it were by the way declares the great ex- pense to which the Queen is put for the preservation of Ireland (which her Majesty is thoroughly determined to preserve) ; and that the Queen has exhausted £30,000 in 7 months : and that the people are more rebellious than they ever were, and so her treasure is wasted : for Tyrone and all the rebels are prouder and more presumptuous of their power than they were before : so much so that the Secretary says that Tyrone, in a parley lately held with Sir William Warren,1 said that he had good hope to have a portion in Eng- land : and that there are more rebels now than there were in 1 Sir William Warren held a parley with Tyrone, at the Fort of the Blackwater, towards the end of September, 1599. (Cat. S. P. Ircl, 1599-1600, pp. 173-4.); JOURNAL OF SIK ROGER WILISKAIIAM 31 fuerout occise que dez enimies : et ore tout le real me est fere al curtesie de rebels & revolt, par hi negligence "de governour qui ad couiitt al royne errors & grand contemptes especialment in ceux pointz : viz : 1° II etant commaund de marcher ove royall force vers rebels in Ulster in north, il (contra advise del counsell in Ireland) va ove petit army in Mounster : par que a divers skirmishes & ad le worse, al grief de subiects & encourage- ment de rebels : par que la province fuit infecte. 2" II parle ove archtraitor Tyrone sur sute al rebel de parler ove lui, par que ils sont devenus insolent & la royne dishonore par eel private con- ference & dishonorable con- dicions, sicome sa diademe ad ete prise de luy : car ad fait ceo •precariwm imp riv/m : & ad pro- March.1 The Lord- also all the enterprises of the Earl of Kssex against the rebels; in every one of which more of the Queen's subjects were slain than of the enemy : and that now the whole kingdom is at the disposal of the rebels and in re- volt, owing to the negligence of the Governor, who has com- mitted against the Queen errors and great contempts, especially in these points : viz. : 1° Being commanded to march with the Queen's army against the rebels in Ulster in the North, he (against the advice of the Council in Ireland) goes with a small force into Minister : and has divers skirmishes, wherein he has the worst, to the grief of all the Queen's subjects and the encouragement of the rebels ; whereby the province is infected. 2° He holds a parley with the archtraitor Tyrone- al the suit of the rebels to confer with him, whereby they are become insolent, and the Queen dis- honoured by this private con- ference and dishonourable con- ditions, as if her crown had been taken from her. For he ' Essex landed at Dublin April 14, 1599, and left Ireland September 24, 1599. A very clear account of Essex's brief span of office is given by Mr. E. G. Atkinson in the preface to the Calendar of State Papers, Ireland, 1599 KiOO. 2 Essex met Tyrone at the Ford of Bcllaclynthe, near Drumcondra, on Septem- ber 7, 1599 (Cat. S. 1'. Irel, 1599-1600, p. 1 16). 32 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM raise de mover la royne pur tolerance in religion. 3° Le Counte ayant licence par letter de retorne a savolunt : uncore ce fuit countermande par autre lettre et il prohibite sur son allegeance de resider in Ireland & de pursuivre Tyrone ; tandis il a retorne in Angleterre contemptuose, & a relinquit le realm in grand perill : & sic tout le councell amplifie sur disgrace del dit counte, il estant absent, a son disgrace ou devant il fut repute tres haut tres noble & populer que unques fuit : hoc audivi ab aliis. 4 Dec 1599 : evesque de Cashel grand polititian de Ire- land, et de grand experience, ayant ete ore employ par royne de parler ove toutz rebels, forque Tyrone et defery a lui : et ayant plusors conferences ove Desmond in Tower et ove Koyne divers foits : dit a moy has made her rule to depend on entreaty : and has promised to approach the Queen to give toleration in religion. 3° The Earl having license by letter to return at his will, though this license had been countermanded by another letter ordering him on his allegiance to continue in Ireland and to pursue Tyrone ; notwithstand- ing, has with contempt returned to England and has left the Kingdom of Ireland in great peril. And so the whole Council amplified on the disgrace of the Earl, he being absent on his disgrace, where before he was reputed most high, most noble, and popular as ever man was : this I heard from others. 4 Dec. 1599: the Bishop of Cashel,1 a great Irish politi- cian, and of great experience, being now employed by the Queen to treat with all the rebels save Tyrone and to report thereon to her ; and having had several conferences with Des- mond 2 in the Tower and with the 1 See his letter to Cecil, dated November 15, 1599, at Westminster, offering his services to the Queen to go to Tyrone (Cal. S. P. Irel., 1599-1600, p. 244) ; a Privy Council letter, dated December 2, 1599, informing the Lords Jus- tices in Ireland that the Archbishop has Her Majesty's commission to confer with any rebels save Tyrone (ibid. 286-7) ; and the Archbishop's letter to Cecil, dated December 15, 1599, West Chester, where this plan is unfolded, but in less detail (ibid. 324-6). - James Fitzgerald, the ' Tower Earl ' of Desmond, for 16 years a prisoner in the Tower. In October 1600 he was sent by the Government to Ireland in the hope that the Geraldine faction would desert his rival the ' Sugan Earl ' to rally round him as their genuine chief. JOURNAL OF SIB EOGEB WILUHAUAM 33 a son departure quil [a] licence de retorne a son plesure : et que son opinion est al royne it Sieur Montioy & Secretaire, viz. pour pacificacion de re- bellion : que English soldiers ne unques poent performe ceo: ex- perience ad ceo declare : ines le voy est par connyng instrumentz de mitter variance et sedicion inter eux memes : et despend parcel de tresure eel voy : et quil meme est le plus apt pilott pour eel matter : entant quil est de kynne, come il pretend, al Mc- guire : et Mcguire est varlet al Odorherti : et il ad alliance et creditt ove Hugh Duff Odonell et ove Oboile quex deux ont emulacion al Odonell : auxi il est grandment trusted ove Tyrone qui ad (id dicitur) pro- claime luy Protector Catholice Ficlei : et son adversaries sont Tirlagh Braselagh qui est fils al Con Onele ayel al Tyrone, auxi Sir Arthure Oneyle fils al darreyne Sir Tirlagh ONeale, et Fitz Shaen Oneyle: et de exciter ceux homes de mover hostilitie vers Tyrone est le sure voy de reformacion et poet estre ore plus facile, entant que Tyrone, sil ad fait tiel insolent parlee, est desperate sans hope de pardon : ou devant nul voile relinquie luy entant quil expect que Tyrone serra les primer que serra pardone. que ore nest issint : ergo ils voile VOL. X. (w) Queen ;tl divers times; told me, on his departure, that In- had license to return at his pleasure: and that his opinion expressed to the Queen, to I .on I Mountjoy and to the Secretary, as regards the pacification of Ireland, is as follows, that English soldiers never can bring that to pass; experience has proved this. But the way is, by means of cunning instru- ments, to put variance and sedition between the Irish them- selves ; and in this way to spend a part of the Queen's treasure: and that he himself is the most apt pilot for this matter; in that he is of kin. as he alleges, with Maguire ; and Maguire is a vassal of O'Dog- herty : and he has alliance and credit with Hugh Duff O'Donnell and with O'Boyle, who are both the rivals of O'Donnell. Also he is greatly trusted by Tyrone, who has (as he says) proclaimed himself Protector of the Catholic Faith : and his adversaries are Tirlagh Breselagh who is the son of Con O'Neil, Tyrone's grandfather ; and Sir Arthur O'Neil, son of the late Sir Tirlagh O'Neil, and FitzShaen O'Neil: and to stir up these men to move hostilities againsl Tyrone is the sure way towards reformation and can be now more easily '-i;' ct< 'I. seeing thai T\ rone, if lit* has held SU( h such 34 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM forsak him : & purchaser favour de eux memes par service, especialment sil poent receve rewards : et 10,000 soldiers eel voy plus availe que 40,000 de Englois : et par force ou sedicion, le melior voy est de land homes soldiers al Loghfoile et il meme voile va ove eux destre instru- ment a mover Irishe de server vers Tyrone : come Ocane, Odo- herti et auters : auxi il dit il scavoit plus de mynd de Tyrone et parle ove luy 1597, par commission : et il desire resti- tucion de traitors terres : et toleracion in religion pur tout Hiberniam : mais ned liberti de religion : mes destre dispunish- able tanque sont couvert. insolent parley, is desperate without hope of pardon : and where before no way was left them, seeing that they expected that Tyrone would be the first to be pardoned, it is not so now ; therefore they are willing to forsake him and purchase favour for themselves by service, especially if they can receive re- wards : and 10,000 soldiers this way avail more than 40,000 English. And by force or sedi- tion the best way is to laud soldiers at Lough Foile ; and he himself is ready to go with them to be the instrument to move the Irish to serve against Tyrone, as O'Cahan, O'Dogherty, and others. Also he says that he knows most of Tyrone's mind and held parley with him in 1597 by commission: and Tyrone desires restitution of the traitor's lands, and toleration in religion for all Ireland, but not liberty of religious rites ; but to be free from punishment so long as they refrain from open religious observance. Lancaster dit a Tanfield Memento quod vnortalis es : etc. Est apartenant al sieur keper daver sur taker. Hel ' pleder dit a sieur Chaneelor : que sur son honesti con- science et science son allegacion fut voier : Lancaster respond quil tr a vers touts : auterfoits il pledant dit que barganie fut bona fide : Lancaster pria court de granter quo warranto il parle latin : qui nad ete edoct ascun liberal science. 1 Sir John Hele, of the Inner Temple : Serjeant 1594, and M.P. for Exeter 1592-1601 ; alleged to be ' drunken, insolent, and overbearing.' JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM Pyne ' dit quil ne voile deliver la ley direct entant que an client sound sur counsens que son cause fut male : Le comendaciou pour royne : quel est paragon de princes : mir- rhor des magistrates : admiracion a son sex : et wonder al Europe : propugnatrix fidei. Ratclief dit que de vender bottle ale est le safe et spedi voie destre rich. Contencion devant evesque de Chester2 enter Sir Georg Beston 3 & Mr. Harvy ' precherde Bunbury pur removing de pulpit : et Harvy excuse ceo, disant il prit cold in le pulpit pur ceo state inter dua ostia Beston replie ' By God, my lord, this is an idle excuse : for it was never hard that a zelous precher ever toke cold in the pulpit.1 Le royne Julii 42 regni : ad une Italian discourse le quel con- teyne mil auter : forque que un magnifico in Italie ad mise un servant ove 10 chivals et 100 ova, de divers kinds, ostrech egges : egles egges, swannes egges, gese, ducks, hennes & birds egges : et cpiant il trove maried home que nest rule par sa feme : il donnera luy cheval : et quant il trove ascun rule par sa feme il donnera luy grand ou petit egges : acordant al supremaci de feme : et il a dis- pose toutz ses egges devant un cheval : al darraine apres prolixe serche il trove un disordered home nient guide par sa feme a qui il offer la choix de ses chevals : il elect gray chival, sa feme dit ' Husband, the horse with bald face is the better horse' : il mainteine son primer elecion : sa feme reioyne al contrari : et al fine prevaile issint husband desire le bald face horse : et fuit deny entant quil fut advise par sa feme. 16 Aug : 1600 : Wilbraham's answare being master of requests to the oration of Mr. Altham his old chamber fellowe a most lerned Header in Graies Inn, upon 27 Eliz : ca : of errors : 5 ' Mr. Reader, the admiracion of vertue hath so depe an impression in 1 John Pyne, Reader, Lincoln's Inn, 1596 (Dugclale's Orig. Jurid. p. 254). - Richard Yaughan, 1597 1604. ■ Sir George Beeston's monument is in Bunbury Church (Ormcrod's Hist, of Cheshire, vol. ii. p. 263, 2nd edition). * Christopher Harvey, Vicar of Bunbury, 1594- 1(501 (Ormerod's Hist, of Chcs)iirc. vol. ii. p. 260). Bunbury was a parish in which the Puritans were very strong {ibid. p. 259). s 27 Eliz. ca. 9 : An Act for Reformation of Errors in Fines and Recoveries &c. 36 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM nature, as filosophers do conclude, we are enforced thereby, to love those whom we never sawe, by which you may easelie coniecture with what unfained affecion we have observed you during all the tyme of your reading, which in the opinion of us all you have per- formed to your exceding comendacion. ' For to speke particulerlie you are the first that adventured to make a breche into this statute, which affordeth verie necessarie lerning for the practize of the lawe, especiallie in the use of pleding aknowledg worthiest to be embraced of all suche as desire to march under the ensigue of pleders. To this center you have drawen as a circumference a collecion of manie profitable question[s] of ex- perience at the common lawe, wherein you have manifested your generall studie in all the partes of the lawe, your faithful observa- cion of the unprinted iudgments, your iudiciall conceates in the apt composiug & lerned debating of your cases, having fixed every one of your owne rare invencions to the authoritie of some authentik & firme iudgment. ' Herin we are to acknowledg your wonderfull diligence, wherof as my self being 6 yeres your chamber fellow was an ey witnesse : so god hath geven you such fruite therof in your publik practize : as that by the best testimonie in our lawe you are consigned with the title of a lerned councellor, whereby hath redounded great honour to our societie & profitt & reputacion to your self : ' Howbeit these graces I do not attribute to your lerning alone : your faith full diligence in your clients causes, your temperate cariage in pleding, your discrete moderacion in all other your actions, by which your learning hath receved her true lustre and resplen- dencie, doe assuredlie promise that if you contynew in the true feare of god, & the sincere performance of your dutie in your peculiar vocacion : we shall see in short tyme his manifold blessinges infinitelie multiplied upon you to the comfort and incoragement of such as follow the same profession. ' To be short in the name of the societie I render unto you our hartiest thankfullnes, for your liberall expenses and your exceading love & paynes expressed in this exercise, wishing that as the same hath ben a loadestone to draw our attendance, so you may be a load3tarre to exalte us to the imitacion of your rare vertues : and so I conclude, out of my peculiar love, with the poet : ' [T] hone quo virtus tua te vocat ; i pede fausto. JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILHRAII AM 87 /' roratio si a/m/plificata. Tu regere imperio populos, Regina, memento : Hae tibi artes erunt pacisque imponere morem. The Printer was a loser by his first impression of Rabies : then he caused a precher in his sermon to inveigh against the vanitie therof: since which it hath ben G tymes under presse: so much it was in request. Yong Christopher Swifte refused a challeng of old Sir Georg Beston : saying he wold not geve Beston so much advantage to venture, a lief of 60 yeres to Beston's of three yeres.1 The amner 2 in his sermon upon the Queen's nativiti day, said, her health is our solace : her ioy our tryumphe : her lief our preservacion : for if she grieve we morne : if she be sick we languish : if she dye we perishe. 1 1 Jan : 16003 ieo fui present al councell ou tres graund con- sultacion fuit pur abasement de coyne pour Ireland : issint que lexpences le roy in vanquishant les traitors poet estre con- tynewe : primo fuit agree que em- basement de coyne inhaunce le price de touts merchandize, foren especiall : et auxi de vittails et touts auters choses : 2°. Fuit agree que soldier que receve ce paie serra distresse et discontent : et 3°. Que ce induce barbarism e idlenes in ce realme : come 14 Jan. 1600. I was pre- sent at the Council, where there was great consultation touch- ing the debasement of the Irish coin : in order that the expenses of the Queen in vanquishing the traitors may be maintained. First it was agreed that debasement ' of coin enhances the price of all merchandise, especially foreign merchandise: and also of victuals and every- thing else. 2. It was agreed that sol- diers receiving their pay in debased coin will be distressed and discontented. 3. That this causes barbarism and idleness in this realme : as 1 Sir George Beeston died in 1601, aged 102 (>te his monument in Bunbury Church as given by Ormerod in his History of Cheshire, vol. ii. p. 263). 2 Dr. Anthony Watson, bishop of Chichester, appointed Queen's Almoner about 1595. (Die. Nat. Bio.) ■ 1601. 4 For a summary of this policy of debasing the Irish coinage, see Gard. Hist. vol. i. p. 365* 38 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM fut devant le coyne refine : car nul artificer fuit fere in Ireland devant : 4°. Ore vient in question et fere resolue par touts que le auncients coigns doent estre descrie, et disanul par pro- clamation : ou auterment ceo base coyne ne serra regard ne accept in contracts : 5°. Donque fere resolue que le auncient standerd dengleterre fuit que pur un pound weight de silver serra 1 2 ounces : dont 11 ounces et 2d weight serra pure : et lauter 18d weight serra de alloy : et que temps E 3 : xxd fuit un ounce de silver : mes apres temps H 8 : fuit semel raise al 2s 6'1 le ounce par proclamation : et sic par proclamation estre par degrees raise al vs le ounce weight : 6°. II semble que frank- tenants quex ont terres in demesne, ou terres dont ils poent improve les rents, ne serra damnifie mult par abase- ment : pur ceo ils poent doble et treble lour rents. Mes pen- sioners, captens, soldiers, et touts quex vivent sur certen rents serra grandement damnifie, et mult discontent : 7°. lis agree que si ascun course deschaunge poet etre was the case before the coin was reformed : for there was no artificer in Ireland before that time. 4. Then the question arose, and it was resolved by all that the old coin must be decried and disannulled by proclama- tion ; or otherwise that base coin will not be regarded or accepted in contracts. 5. Then it was resolved that the ancient standard of England was that in one pound weight of silver there should be twelve ounces : where- of 11 oz. 2 dwt. should be pure and the remaining 18 dwt. should be alloy : and that in the reign of Edward III the value of one ounce of silver was Is. Sd., but afterwards in the reign of Henry VIII the value of the ounce was raised, at first, to 2s. 6d., by proclamation : and so to be raised by degrees by pro- clamation to 5s. the ounce. 6. It seems that freedholders who have lands in demesne, or lands whereof they can raise the rent, will not suffer much harm by the debasement, be- cause they can double and treble their rents ; but pensioners, officers, soldiers, and all who live by certain rents will be greatly harmed and exceedingly dis- contented. 7. They agree that if any system of exchange can be JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAIIAM 39 que soldiers serra releve, et rebels sustendera le losse dabase- ment ceo hasten le peace, par lour povertie : al fine senible destre resolue par touts que ob: & ld serra coyne de basse metall tout ousterment : et que 3d vi'1 et xii'1 serra coine de 3 ounces line et 9 ounces alloy : issint que serra 3 parts base et 4 part pure : et que novel stampe serra devise, a coyner 100,000 pour service de Ireland tii idum: et que touts auters coynes la currant serra decry, et disanul : issint que tout re- torner in Engleterre : Et donque Tresorer de Ire- land promise que ascun mer- chants undertake de aver es- chaunge de donner a chescun soldier ou subiect, sterling pur ceo base Irishe : pur 29 in 20s losse in exchaunge : et ceo il performe sans damag al royne plus que 50,000 x : car cy tost que ce vient destre eschaunge, il voile utter ceo al army arere : et sic il uttera ceo sans losse ouster 50,000 initio. In ce case devant un caution doet etre que nul counterfett ce base coyne : et par ce voi le effected, so that the soldiers shall be relieved and the rebels bear the loss occasioned by the debasement of the coin, it will hasten peace by reason of the poverty of the rebels. In con- clusion it seems to be resolved by all that the penny and half- penny shall be coins of base metal entirely, and threepences, sixpences, and shillings shall be coined, whereof three ounces shall be pure and nine ounces alloy; so that there be three parts base and the fourth part pure; and that a new stamp shall be de- vised to coin 100,000 for the ser- vice of Ireland only: and that all other coins current there shall be decried and disannulled, so that all shall return to England. And then the Treasurer of Ireland promises that some merchants shall undertake to provide exchange to each soldier or subject, sterling for debased Irish coin, at a loss of two shillings for every pound in exchange : and that he will effect this without loss to the Queen, saving one of £50,iin<): for as soon as the debased hi.-h coin comes to be exchanged he will issue it back again to the army : and so he will issue it without loss, saving the £50,000 in the first instance. In this case precaution must first be taken that no one shall counterfeit this debased coin : 40 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM royue doet eschaung infinite somes a son detriment : et par case serra bone snr chescun issue daver bill endented et sic de reprender ce par eschaunge, par que le rebell serra prevent. Eschange est devise (come apiert in statuts de money temps E. 3, et par que eschaung fuit pur bullion daver silver et pur un coyne daver auter :) que ceux de Ireland que aport baze coyne aver sterling in Angieterre, ove losse de 2s in 20s : et ceux quex deliver bone cojme in Ireland aver baze la et le 7 part plus : come 23s 4d pour 20s bone silver : et uncore par le doble treble et sextible uttering de base in Ireland (plus que lauter eschaunge de- sire al benefite de subiect) la royne gainira multe : vide Eas- tel, titulo Eschaunge. 25 E. 3 ca. 12: 14 E. 2ca.2. et 3 H. 7ca.6, eschaunges forbidden but by the King's license & officers : which semes foren eschaunges. 5 E. 6 ca. 19 ibid: no man and thus the Queen should have to exchange infinite sums to her detriment : and perhaps it will be a good plan on each issue to have an indented bill, and so to take the bill back again in ex- change : and in this way the rebels will be prevented. Exchange was devised, as it appears, by a statute relating to money in the reign of Edward III, whereby exchange was to afford silver for bullion : and for one coin to have another : that those of Ireland who brought debased coin should have sterling in England, at a loss of two shillings in the pound : and those who deliver good coin in Ireland should have debased coin there and a one seventh in addition : for instance 23s. 4d. for 20s. good silver : and yet by the double treble and sextuple issue of de- based coin in Ireland (more than the other exchange desires with benefit to the subject) the Queen will gain much. See Eastall, title 'Exchange.'1 25 Edward III ca. 12, 14 Eic. II ca. 2, and 3 Henry VII ca. 6, forbids exchange unless by the King's license, and through his officers ; this seems to refer only to foreign exchange. 5 Edward VI. ca. 19 ibid. : no 1 William Eastall, J.Q.B. 1558-1562. The references are to his collection of all the statutes from Magna Charta to 1, Elizabeth, arranged under their subjects in alphabetical order. JOfRXAL OF SIR ROGER WII.I5RAFIAM II shall take tor eschaunge of gold for silver any profitt, above the rate, pena forfeture : L9 Henry 7 : ca. 5, R. money 45 : mil argent doet etre cary dengleterre al Ireland : nee de Ireland al Ingland pena forfeture. Temps E. 3, etc : divers statutes quex prohibit trans- portation de ascun silver, gold, bullion, plate, hors de realrae : et ascun statute prohibite que mil serra port transmare in Engleterre : semble le reason fuit pur ceo notre coyne fuit plus pure que lauter. Auxi apiert par statute E. 3 : que Galli halfpence et Scottishe coyne fuit abase in lour price in Engleterre de temps in temps come le coyne fuit abase in puritie in Engleterre. man shall take, in exchanging gold for silver, any profit above the lawful rate, under pain of forfeiture. 19 Henry VII. ca. 5, Rastall, • Money,' 45. No silver is to be carried from England to Ire- land or from Ireland to England under pain of forfeiture. Temp. Edward III. etc. : divers statutes which prohibit transportation of any silver, gold, bullion or plate out of the realm : and some statutes ordain that no one shall bring coin over sea to England. The reason for this seems to be that our coin was purer than other coin. Also it appears by a statute of Edward III. that Galley- halfpennies and Scotch coin were debased in their value in Eng- land from time to time, as the coin was debased in purity in England. Parliament terme Mich. 43 et 41 Ra0 fuit dissolve 19 Dec. 1601.1 Crook recorder de Londres apres que la royne fuit in sa royal throne, fuit conduct al barre par 2 councellors de lower howse : & apres 3 humble congees & silence, il fit oration a eel effect. • Most sacred prince & renowned soveraigne : man cannot live without societie, no societie can contynew without order, no order without lawes which are the bonds & ornaments of all societie. ' The highest above all lawes and law makers first ingraved lawes in man's harte to discerne good from evell, to embrace the one & eschew the other : after when vice increased lawes were 1 In the Reports of Townshend (pp. 149-151) and D'Ewes (pp. 618-9) the speeches of the Speaker and the Lord Keeper are far less fully given than here, while the Queen's speech is entirely omitted. 42 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM ordeined to protect the good & correct the evell. But sithence the mutabilitie of all thinges had predominance in men's actions, the lawes established must be varied & made aplicable to the infinite diversitie of circumstances.' In lawes & government he said religion was primum, secundum & tercium : & that all her maiestie's lawes (according to the divine inspiracion of her sacred spirite) tended evermore to the establishment of sincere religion, wherein her royall hart was firmely fixed : & therfore no doubt but wold fructifie to her immortal praise & the prosperitie of her people. 2°. Secondlie, he declared that the Lords & Commons assembled had considered of divers publik & private lawes, which now gaspe for brethe from your all powerfull Maiestie who onlie can geve them lief. Her maiestie's lawes are the limbes of iustice tending to the continuance of our happie peace : & it maie not be said of them, Bat veniam corvis, vexed censura columbas : he praised our happie peace & praied we might long enjoy it under her. 3°. Thirdlie he shewed that an honorable councillor, member of the lower howse, had declared to them that Spaine & Rome had conspired against her Maiestie his annointed & absolved them of Ireland from allegeance & thundred all possible threates against such as persisted in ther loyaltie : they had sent wolves amongst her Maiestie's subiects, some like lions in force of amies to compell, some like lammes by pretence of puritie of religion which was idolatrie to seduce them from ther due obedience. But ther curses shall retorne upon themselves & they shalbe intrapped in ther owne snares ; for god will ever preserve his anointed because her royall hart hathe never started from his holy hestes : for the better preparacion against these cruell foes, the Lords & Commons considering the great charges exhausted in the iust defence of her people have most humblie & willinglie (& then made low conges) presented to her maiestie 4 subsidies & 8 fiftenths & tenths, in token of there zelous hartes (tho not equal 1 to the charges), who are evermore redi to sprinkle ther hart bloude in their enimies faces, for the service of her maiestie. 4°. He rendred all humble thanks for her maiestie's most ample gracious and free pardon, commending her iustice to be admirable, so her mercy to be most renowned and magnified to all posteritie : lastlie he craved pardon, for his weeknes, infirmitie & oversights, JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBBAHAM 43 especiallie in his defections, relating to the howse her maiestie'e gracious favours espressed by her towards them in such divine & supernaturall manner, as his weeklies could not undergo so high A: weighti a charge: but desired upon his knees that voluntas reputabitwr jn-o facto : & so ended. The Lord Keeper called to the Queen : & she delivered him in secret charge what to answere : who retorning to his place said to this effect (both orations held about one howre & no more :) ' Mr. Speaker the Q9 most excellent Maiestie hath hard it con- sidered your grave & lerned speche, & commanded me to signihe her gracious pleasure to ech part of your spech, a charge to hevi for me to undergoe. ' Touching the first part of your spech concerning the praise & necessitie of lawes, her Maiestie geveth all approbacion : especi- allie in your conclusion wher you acknowledge that therin & in all her government she hath evermore knitt them to sinceritie of religion : for without that she disdaines all praise of other vertues, quce sjplendescunt .fililtife & franguntur ritiiilute. ' Touching your lawes made, she findes more private lawes than publick : whereby the charge imposed in the begyning of parliament hath not ben observed : & tyme might better have ben spent in publick, but therein she notes private respects are carried in publick affairs which ought not to be. ' Concerning your 4 subsidies & 8 fiftenth & xths, presented for the warres, she acknowledges the loving bountie of her subiects to be extraordinarie : but the like cause of expense of treasure was never before : & her maiestie doth take the manner of free geving without grudging, & to be geven in the beginning of the parliament, as thankfullie as the gifte : & tho she accept it as a gift to herself, yet she requireth you & all her subiects to knowe that she hath never ben gredie gryper nor covetous keper. contemning ever more welth without honor : this bountie of her subiects is not to spare or supplie her royall expenses, but in part of the charges bestowed for ther defence, whereof her maiestie is so dearlie affectionate, that she hath sold & doth still sell of ber auncient inheritance for the defence of her so liberal! & loving subiects; & this subsidie her maiestie challengeth no use or propertie but the troble of distribucion : & sithence her maiestie is so graciouslie thankfull for the subsidie, she expecteth that the Lords & Commons will show example from themselves of iu-t 44 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM taxacion : & so by example excite others that it maie be as large in deeds as in wordes : ' Her maiestie geveth you all great thanks for your discret carriage in debate of your councells in this parliament : & in especiall because in every occurrance that aymed at her prerogative, which she preserveth to the good of her subiects & the offence of none, you preserved the same by petition to her sacred person : obedience better then sacrifice : she nedeth non that cannot obey as of law : Essex. ' Her maiestie hath graunted them a gracious and liberall pardon : & she well understandeth what she hath geven and remitted them, whereby her bountie is more to be honored : her sword of Justice never shineth more then oyled with mercy. ' And lastlie to you Mr. Speker she not onlie thinketh you worthy of pardon but geveth you great thanks for your wise & discret cariage : acknowledging your deserts equal with any your prede- cessors.' All charged to repaire to the countrey & not to winter in London like butterflies spend summer abrod : that the Justices of peace be vigilant & not drones, nor quarelous champertors. The Parliament being dissolved & ech one redie to depart without further expectacion as the manner is, the Queen's Maiestie raised herself out of her royal seate & made a short, pithie, eloquent & comfortable spech somewhat to this effect : x for besides I could not well heare all she spake, the grace of pronunciacion & of her apt & refined wordes so lernedlie composed did ravish the sense of the herers with such admiracion as every new sentence made me half forget the precedents. ■ My Lords, we have thought it expedient in this general 1 This fine speech of the Queen is not even mentioned in the Parliamentary Reports, nor have I been able to find any report of it elsewhere. Carleton, however, in a letter dated London, December 29, 1601, to Chamberlain, writes: 'The Parliament ended on Saturday seven night. I was present as a burgess, and heard good counter-clawing and interchangeable flattery between the Speaker and my Lord Keeper in behalf of the Queen. The Queen concluded all with a long speech, which was much commended by all those who heard her : the Bishop of Durham told me he had never heard her in a better vein.' (S. P. Doin., 1601-3, p. 134.) JOURNAL OF .SIR roger wilbraham 1,5 as>emblie to lett you know out of our uwne mouth the unfayned attestation of our hurt . • First we humblie acknowledg the innumerable iV unsprkable benefits of Almighty God for our miraculous preservacion from tin- traitorous practises of miscreant subiects who, designed thereto by foren enimies, have sought by taking away our lief, (which we are ever most willing to render up to him that gave it) have soughl therby to bring our people & kingdome, (being farre more deare to us then our ovvne lief) into perpetuall thraldome iV foren tiranie. ' And to saie the truth e ther have ben somanie & divers strata- gems & malicious practises & devises to surprise us of our lief, as in recording therof I am forced to recognize the mercyes & omni- potencie of the eternall God, by whose providence 1 have escaped all ther snares, & some of the malefactors sentenced to perpetual] shame & deserved punishment. ' The nomber of these wicked complotters, the severall manners of undertaking therof, & how some of them were discovered before the came to ther ripenes, other brought forth abortive, some others even in ther full maturitie extinguished, it were to small purpose particulerlie now to recount ; ther be divers gentlemen our ministers that can redelie testifie the truthe & circumstances hereof. Our purpose onlie is to acknowledge our constant & irre- movable dependencie upon his mercyes by whose goodnes we that trust ever in him have ever ben preserved. ' Next you shall understand that touching our civill government, sitheuce the begyning of our raigne, in all causes we have under- taken to heare & deterimme, our hart hath ben as a playne table redie to receave any impression : so most willing to heare the allegacions of ech partie, yet evermore inclining onr sentence to the sinceritie of proef & soundnes of reason. • Touching our affaires with foren princes I must discover some things not knowen to many, and those of our Councell in the secrecy of our state. In the begyning of our raigne those of the Low Countreys presented manie peticions to us & our neighbour princes to be protected against inquisitioners of Spaine & other opresions not sufferable, wherein we remembering the auncienl amytie be- tween our predecessors & the bowse of Burgundie, & knowing how farre Spaine was remote from the Low Countreys A. fearing his soldiers revolt ther for want, sent pay to them to conteyne them, 46 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER W1LBRAHAM & advertised the King of Spaine, by twelve persons severallie at the lest : that if he did not loose the raigne in easing the Lowe Countreys from ther over hevi burdens, they were redie & likelie to seek their protecion from other foren princes to his harme & dishonor. But this potent prince, (whose sowle I trust is with God, howsoever his demerites have bene towards us) not regarding our advise, continued still in extremities : which forced those people to seek & sue for our protecion by manie peticions, & in ther owne wisdome finding our inclination inseparablie knitt to contynew the former amitie with Spaine, they shewed us the severall instruments wherby the king & the emperor his father were sworn (a strange oath for kinges) that if those subiects did not enioy the ymmunities therm promised them the might lawfullie seek protecion of any other prince : exciting us out of our compassionate disposicion to relieve ther knowen extremities. Upon which we graunted them some defence, onlie till by our mediacion or process of tyme some moderacion might be founde, which we thought was recmired in christianiti & yet no brech of amitie : but the late king (before this) in recompense of our princelie kindnes towards him in our former advertisement & lones, excited a daungerouse rebellion in the north by the earles of Northumberland & Westmoreland, which being quicklie & happelie extinguished, he still contynewed all malicious courses, I neede not say of attemptes of invacion but the invacion it self which by God's potencie was defeated. And now the yong king 1 following his father in malice will begynne it semes warre upon us : when it is well knowen that we have often refused the resignacion of tbe Low Countreys (which the Archduke hath) into our protecion, (a great temptacion to any prince to be sove- raigne over so rich a people) being led therto by a desire not to infringe in any point that former amitie, & especiallie desiring an established prosperitie & peace to our people rather then any en- largement to our owne honour. This we speak to lett you & all others knowe this warre is causeless, not drawen upon us by anie provocacion of ours, but a rashe enterprise, proceding of malice or vaine glorie : wherby as we nothing feare, so lett no man doubt but that the iustice & omnipotence of God is such, that in every warre he geveth victorie to the innocent, & fighteth evermore for those that sincerelie serve him : upon which confidence we may 1 Philip III. became king in 1598 ; in 1601 be was twenty-tbree years of age. JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM 47 repose our selves in corage & alacritie. whatsoever be practized against us. Concerning our affecion to our people, it is our happiest felecitie & most inward ioy, that no prince ever governed a more t'aithfull valiant & loving people : whose peace & prosperitie we evermore preferre before all temporall blessinges : & be you well assured whether we mak peace or warre, the good of our people -halite evermore preferred therin. We never attempted any thinge to damage or dishonour our people & tho we may not attribute merites to our owne witt in chosing out the safest harbour for us all to ancor at : yet the finger of God, directing the actions of all princes that sincerely serve him, & our long lived experience, tho in a meane witt, shall mak us able to discerne & embrace that which shall tend to the prosperitie of our people : to whom I wishe, that they that wishe them best may never wishe in vain.' In the upper parliament hangings, amongest other emblems, the embleme of raging love is sett in the arays with these 2 verses Cura placens, predulce malum, tristisque voluptas : Heu vesana furens pectora vexed amor. 26 Jan. 1601 : her majestie commaunded me to deliver this message to the lord Maior ' : first she marveled he did not proceade with the erecion of an hospitall for relief of pore at 300/. per annum, entended & agreed on by his predecessor : secondlie re- quiring him to cause restraint of the vagarant roagues about London : & to retorne his private answare. His Lordship, 27 Jan. 1601 ; desired me retorne this answare to the first : that the aldermen denied anie such conclusion to have ben : & that latelie at the instance of the chief Justice, his Lord- ship & the aldermen had labored therin, but could not perswade it by reason of other great charges happening of late which yet are not collected : namelie 4,000/. paid for 2 gallies. IS soldiers (sic) sent to Ostend, others to Ireland : that Bridewell geven to so good a purpose by E. 6, was now made a prison & so spent much thai way : & that Surrey & Middlesex, for whom this relief was chieflie, should provide for ther owne. To the second: he said he found the constables & sidemen negligent, & he confessed the fault of his remisenes but it should 1 Robert Lee. 48 JOURNAL OF SIR ROGER WILBRAHAM be redressed : onlie he found the pore so nianie & distressed that some convenience must be for begars or els they wold starve. Wilbraham's spech being Master of Requests to seriant Pelham for his farewell in Graies Inne hall, Nov: 1601 : being called seriant to thentent to be Chief baron in Ireland : & in answare to the seriant. ' Mr. Seriant we do all excedinglie reioice to see vertue is worthelie honored, in a gentleman so beloved in this societie. ' Your humble recoguizion to her Maiestie that so graciouslie hath called you to this preferment doth argue to the world that being so unfainedlie thankfull to acknowledg, you wilbe seriouslie intentive to deserve this highe favor. ' For your gratefull ennumeracion of benefitz ascribed to this societie, we cannot but commend your humilitie being the proper ensigne to all your vertues, & embrace your love out of our best affecions, promising that as your advauncement hath geven honor to our felowship, so shall our assistance be evermore redie to im- prove your fortunes. ' God graunt that this your dignitie raised out of vertue, may be a day dawning starre to geve light & example to others by like desert to mount into the same sphere. ' It were presumpcion to advise you in any thing : yet we in kindnes of good will may entreate you to call to mynd that in this plentifull harvest of pleders you are selected to the highest dignitie incident to your calling. Remember therfore you are placed as a probacioner in an open theatre to this end that if by publick trial 1 you shall aprove & as I hope increse the opinion of your lerning & sinceritie in this ministeriall function : you may heareafter be ad- vaunced to magistracie of weightie imployment for the service of your prince & good of your countrey. ' Forgett not then these short memorialls : first that the grace procedeth from God, the bountie from a soveraign prince, the meanes hath ben the comendacion of frends : but the merite hath growen out of your owne vertues. ' Therfore to conclude, be you of good corage, put on in God's name all sailes, & now shew your self a circumspect pilott. We will wish you evermore a prosperous wynd, &that the haven which is in your kennyng may prove a happie harbour for you to ancor at : finis.' [After in A n